May 27, 1995

Devon pipped at quarter-final post

A Devon team substantially outgraded by Warwickshire on almost every

board came close to their first semi-final place in the English County Championships last week.

 We needed 11/2 points from our last 3 games, but could only manage a single 1/2-point, losing in the end 7-9. A single reversal would have done it for us, but the team can be justly proud of their result. Exeter provided 10 of the 16 players and achieved 6 of the 7 points.

 The previous week Devon II squeezed through against Cleveland 81/2-71/2 , with young Exeter player Ian Taggart check-mating his opponent in the last game with just three seconds left on his clock!

 A simple finish from my own game against Keith Escott (sorry, I don't have the score of anyone else's!).

-+-+-Tj+
+xX-+d+x
-+-X-SxL
+-+pX-+-
-Pp+b+l+
+-+q+nP-
-+-+kP-P
B-+-+-+r

 In this King's Indian, everything has gone minty for White who next plays h3, hoping to break the terrible pin. What should you play as Black?

 SOLUTION: 20...Bxf3 was decisive:

 21. Qxf3 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxf2+ and mate on d2

 21. Kxf3 Nxe4+ 22. Kxe4 Qf5 mate

 The game actually went: 21. Bxf3 e4 and Black won with the extra piece.

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This document (ECC\eccp21.html) was last modified on 13 Aug 2005 by [cool blue cat]

Dr. Dave